ByDouglas Niermeyer, Commander-in-ChiefMilitary Order of the Loyal
Legion of the United Statesmomollus@sbcglobal.net (August
2005)

Harvey Marion Trimble was born near Wilmington, Clinton County, Ohio, January 27, 1842, and died at Princeton, Illinois, January 10, 1918. The family moved to Bureau County, Illinois, the following year to a farm, a few years later to Princeton, where his life was passed. His education was acquired in the public schools with a partial course at Eureka College, leaving there August 21st to join the army. Enlisting in Company K, a private, 93rd Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry and was commissioned adjutant of the regiment Febrary 26, 1864, serving with the regiment until the close of the war, excepting fourteen days a confederate prisoner captured at Ridgeway, Tennessee, while executing orders as a scout, having participated in every march, skirmish, and battle in which the regiment was engaged.

Returning to Princeton after the war engaged in clerical court work while pursuing his law studies preparing to act his part in the Union he had risked his life to preserve and was admitted to the bar November 20, 1867, licensed as attorney at law October 9, 1866, was married to Miss Margaret J. Dakin to whom five sons were born. As a citizen he was prominent and active in educational and civic affairs, for many years a member of the Board of Education and Public Library.

As a lawyer his election for four terms as County judge, and for six years Circuit judge of the 13th Judicial District of Illinois, shows the appreciation and respect of the district for his legal and judicial ability. He was a member of the Vicksburg Military Statue Committee, became a member of the Illinois Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Insignia #12893, and was Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic in 1911.

As a soldier his attention to duty, courage and soldierly hearing, whether in camp, on the march, or field of battle, won the respect alike of officers and privates. The record of such a life is its fitting eulogy, worthy of emulation, leaving a loving memory and priceless legacy to his surviving family. Honored and respected in his life work, the measure of his days filled with a large usefulness, he will be kindly held in memory by those who shared with him the bivouac and stress of the war. His interest and activities in matters for the betterment of the community and the welfare of society marks a happy home life and devotion to family and a genial friend and associate in the social and public relations of life.

It has been written by the master minds of all time that a man's deeds are but the enlarged shadow of his character, by their fruits shall ye know them, so in closing the memorial of Companion Harvey Marion Trimble, it was felt that no words could more fittingly convey the value and worth of a useful life than a reference to that part of American history linked with the name of Companion Harvey Marlon Trimble.

Sources:
1) Memorials. Of Deceased Companions of the Commandery of the State of Illinois, Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. From >From January 1, 1912 to December 31, 1922. Published by the Commandery. Volume 8. Chicago: c1923, p.435-7.
2) Photo Submitted by: George G. Kane, July 2001